The Punk Singer – A Film About Kathleen Hannah

(My Words)

This Documentary film about the intensely and utterly human portrait of Kathleen Hanna. Someone who I knew only by sarcastic references to girls wearing combat boots and hating men, after seeing this I am so happy I did. it hit me at the right time in my life to split me wide open. It truly sent me on a personal journey in my own life one that I could never truly repay Kathleen for inspiring. Her absolute power as a women in the face of the engrained liberal sexism at Evergreen, Olympia, but also in her travels around the world showed me more what I always looked for in feminism. it was something that the feminists never showed me rather made me feel inadequate and self hate towards my body and gender. perhaps this wall was put up so I could one day see the transformative power Kathleen has had in the world. I’m a man, who wants desperately to understand how to progress gender equality without obfuscating my benefits. id rather rip away my masculine safe imposed persona, and embrace what Kathleen fought, struggled, and sang for in her wonderful bands.

I am not done or fully understanding how to do so yet, so i beg of any feminist who reads this to be open to helpful criticism of my evolution from gender hegemony to equality. I am and will forever thanks to the beautiful experience I had watching this documentary. please I implore you to watch it and love it as much as I do!

ABOUT THE FILM (taken from website)

Kathleen Hanna, lead singer of the punk band Bikini Kill and dance-punk trio Le Tigre, rose to national attention as the reluctant but never shy voice of the riot grrrl movement. She became one of the most famously outspoken feminist icons, a cultural lightning rod. Her critics wished she would just shut-up, and her fans hoped she never would. So in 2005, when Hanna stopped shouting, many wondered why. Through 20 years of archival footage* and intimate interviews with Hanna, THE PUNK SINGER takes viewers on a fascinating tour of contemporary music and offers a never-before-seen view into the life of this fearless leader.